Projection display apparatus

• US 20010013843A1
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Akaiwa, Shoichi, Fujiwara, Shuichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,061,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/06 Adjustment of display parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/74 Projection arrangements for image reproduction, e.g. using eidophor

Abstract

A technique to adjust each projector of a multi-projector system by simple operations when an identical image is projected on a screen by a plurality of projectors. A communication control unit controls serial communications with an external device through a serial communication port P1 or P2. When receiving a stack definition packet through the serial communication port P1, a control unit stores ID information into a memory based on number information that represents a number of working projectors included in the input stack definition packet, increments the number information in the stack definition packet, and transmits the updated stack definition packet through the serial communication port P2. In response to a command input through the serial communication port P1, the control unit determines whether or not an address of the input command designates itself as the projector of interest, based on address information included in the command and the ID information stored in the memory. If the address of the command does designate itself as the projector of interest, the control unit carries out a processing specified by the command.

Claims

1. A projection display apparatus, comprising:

a communication control section configured to control communication with an external device by at least one of a first communication port and a second communication port;

a storage section; and

a control section configured to, in response to an initialization signal input through the first communication port, store ID information corresponding to the initialization signal into the storage section, update the initialization signal according to a predetermined rule, and transmit the updated initialization signal through the second communication port, the control section further configured to, in response to a command input through the first communication port, determine whether or not the command is directed to itself as a projection display apparatus of interest, based on address information included in the command and the ID information stored in the storage section, and the control section is further configured to carry out a processing specified by the command if the command is directed to itself as the projection display apparatus of interest.

2. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein the control section is further configured to transmit return information, which represents a result of the processing specified by the given command, through the first communication port after the processing has been completed, and if the control section receives return information input through the second communication port, the control section transmits through the first communication port the return information given through the second communication port.

3. A projection display apparatus in accordance with of

claim 1

, further comprising a command input section, and wherein the control section carries out processing specified by the command input through the command input section only when an initialization signal having prescribed contents is input through the first communication port, the control section neglecting the command given through the command input section when the input initialization signal has no prescribed contents.

4. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 3

, wherein when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is input through the first communication port and a predetermined command is input through the command input section, the control section carries out a control to display an onscreen display menu to allow input of commands addressed to an arbitrary one of a plurality of projection display apparatuses including the projection display apparatus of interest.

5. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 3

, wherein when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is input through the first communication port, the control section transmits through the second communication port a piece of information that specifies at least one of a type of image signal supplied externally and a method of signal processing to be applied for the supplied image signal, when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is not input through the first communication port, the control section receives through the first communication port the piece of information that specifies at least one of the type of image signal supplied externally and the method of signal processing to be applied for the supplied image signal and controls a signal processing applied for the supplied image signal according to the received piece of information.

6. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising a plurality of image signal input ports configured to receive image signals, wherein the control section selects an image signal input from one of the plurality of image signal input ports and controls projection and display of an image expressed by the selected image signal in response to a command given through the first communication port.

7. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, wherein the control section is further configured to delay an execution timing of the processing specified by the command given through the first communication port according to the ID information stored in the storage section.

8. A projection display apparatus in accordance with of

claim 2

, further comprising a command input section, and wherein the control section carries out processing specified by the command input through the command input section only when an initialization signal having prescribed contents is input through the first communication port, the control section neglecting the command given through the command input section when the input initialization signal has no prescribed contents.

9. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 8

, wherein when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is input through the first communication port and a predetermined command is input through the command input section, the control section carries out a control to display an onscreen display menu to allow input of commands addressed to an arbitrary one of a plurality of projection display apparatuses including the projection display apparatus of interest.

10. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 8

, wherein when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is input through the first communication port, the control section transmits through the second communication port a piece of information that specifies at least one of a type of image signal supplied externally and a method of signal processing to be applied for the supplied image signal, when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is not input through the first communication port, the control section receives through the first communication port the piece of information that specifies at least one of the type of image signal supplied externally and the method of signal processing to be applied for the supplied image signal and controls a signal processing applied for the supplied image signal according to the received piece of information.

16. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 1

, further comprising a plurality of image signal input means for receiving image signals, wherein the control means selects an image signal input from one of the plurality of image signal input means and controls projection and display of an image expressed by the selected image signal in response to a command given through the first communication port means.

11. A projection display apparatus, comprising:

communication control section means for controlling communication with an external device by at least one of a first communication port means and a second communication port means;

storage means; and

control means for, in response to an initialization signal input through the first communication port means, storing ID information corresponding to the initialization signal into the storage means, updating the initialization signal according to a predetermined rule, and transmitting the updated initialization signal through the second communication port means, the control means further for, in response to a command input through the first communication port means, determining whether or not the command is directed to itself as a projection display apparatus of interest, based on address information included in the command and the ID information stored in the storage means, and for further carrying out a processing specified by the command if the command is directed to itself as the projection display apparatus of interest.

12. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 11

, wherein the control mean further transmits return information, which represents a result of the processing specified by the given command, through the first communication port means after the processing has been completed, and if the control means receives return information input through the second communication port means, the control means transmits through the first communication port means the return information given through the second communication port means.

13. A projection display apparatus in accordance with of

claim 11

, further comprising command input means for inputting a command, and wherein the control means carries out processing specified by the command input through the command input means only when an initialization signal having prescribed contents is input through the first communication port means, the control means neglecting the command given through the command input means when the input initialization signal has no prescribed contents.

14. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 13

, wherein when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is input through the first communication port means and a predetermined command is input through the command input means, the control means controls to display an onscreen display menu to allow input of commands addressed to an arbitrary one of a plurality of projection display apparatuses including the projection display apparatus of interest.

15. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 13

, wherein when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is input through the first communication port means, the control means transmits through the second communication port means a piece of information that specifies at least one of a type of image signal supplied externally and a method of signal processing to be applied for the supplied image signal, when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is not input through the first communication port means, the control means receives through the first communication port means the piece of information that specifies at least one of the type of image signal supplied externally and the method of signal processing to be applied for the supplied image signal and controls a signal processing applied for the supplied image signal according to the received piece of information.

17. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 11

, wherein the control means further delays an execution timing of the processing specified by the command given through the first communication port means according to the ID information stored in the storage means.

18. A projection display apparatus in accordance with of

claim 12

, further comprising command input means for inputting a command, and wherein the control means carries out processing specified by the command input through the command input means only when an initialization signal having prescribed contents is input through the first communication port means, the control means neglecting the command given through the command input means when the input initialization signal has no prescribed contents.

19. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 18

, wherein when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is input through the first communication port means and a predetermined command is input through the command input means, the control means controls to display an onscreen display menu to allow input of commands addressed to an arbitrary one of a plurality of projection display apparatuses including the projection display apparatus of interest.

20. A projection display apparatus in accordance with

claim 18

, wherein when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is input through the first communication port means, the control means transmits through the second communication port means a piece of information that specifies at least one of a type of image signal supplied externally and a method of signal processing to be applied for the supplied image signal, when the initialization signal having the prescribed contents is not input through the first communication port means, the control means receives through the first communication port means the piece of information that specifies at least one of the type of image signal supplied externally and the method of signal processing to be applied for the supplied image signal and controls a signal processing applied for the supplied image signal according to the received piece of information.